A special quarterly section of Columbus Monthly
EDITED
BY
JULANNE HOHBACH
PAGE 56
Legal Weed and Teens Experts worry Ohio’s new rules on recreational marijuana could cause a spike in usage.
PAGE 60
The Go-To Guide: Budget-Friendly Family Fun 50+ free and low-cost entertainment options
Dr. Erin R. McKnight, medical director of the Substance Use Treatment and Recovery Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
As recreational marijuana becomes legal in Ohio, physicians and substance use experts worry that usage will rise—and with it, an array of related health problems.
Will the legalization of marijuana in Ohio prompt more kids to smoke a joint?
That question is on the minds of addiction doctors, counselors, researchers and parents after Ohio voters approved a November 2023 ballot issue legalizing the drug for adult recreational use. Legalization will become reality once state regulators finalize rules for sales, and with it, marijuana will be more available—and less stigmatized.
Fran Gerbig, executive director of the Prevention Action Alliance, worries that cannabis will be easier for adolescents to get through friends and family members. For more than 30 years, the Columbus-based nonprofit has worked to prevent adolescent substance misuse through information and professional development. “When we legitimize things, it sends a message that it’s safe to use,” she says.
That’s also a concern for Dr. Erin R. McKnight, medical director of the Substance Use Treatment and Recovery Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “When you decrease the perceived risk of harm, that’s when you start to see more of an increase in use,” she says. “It makes kids think it’s OK and it isn’t going to harm them.”
To the contrary, experts say, marijuana can harm teens’ developing brains, hearts and lungs.
By Kathy Lynn Gray
McKnight says marijuana is more dangerous for young people than for adults because their brains are still developing. “Cannabis can change the brain so that your ability to learn how to do complex things and your executive function is affected,” says McKnight, whose outpatient recovery program helps adolescents with a variety of substance use disorders. “As an adult, your brain already is developed.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, research has shown that teen marijuana use can make it difficult to think, remember, learn and solve problems, as well as to pay attention. It has also been linked to mental disorders such as anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.
Today, pot use is easier than ever for teens to conceal from their parents because they can inhale it through electronic vaping devices, which are small, easy to hide and low odor. While smoking a joint or consuming edibles remain common, vaping has become more popular. The most recent Monitoring the Future survey of students, conducted by the University of Michigan Survey Research Center in 2023, found that most respondents who reported using marijuana said they vaped it.
A study released by the American Heart Association in 2023 found that 70 percent of teens and young adults surveyed who vaped tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical in marijuana that makes users high, had experienced anxiety symptoms in the prior week. Of those who had never vaped, only 40 percent reported anxiety symptoms. Researchers surveyed 2,505 individuals ages 13 to 24 for the study. Further studies would be needed to conclude whether THC actually caused or worsened anxiety, or if such symptoms had an effect on the use of vape products, researchers said.
Loren E. Wold, associate dean for research operations and compliance in the Ohio State University College of Medicine, has studied the health effects of vaping, both with nicotine and
THC. He says his research with mice indicates vaping may hurt the body’s cardiovascular system long term. “We looked at adolescent mice exposed to vaping, with or without nicotine, then assessed them later in life and saw a significant decrease in pumping in the heart,” he says.
Other studies have shown vaping can hurt the lungs, he says. “Adolescents who vape are at risk for stunting or altering their lung development and may not reach full lung function,” Wold says. “The emphasis on long-term effects and future offspring cannot be overstated, and that’s not talked about, especially with adolescents.”
Another concern for health professionals is how marijuana itself has changed over the last 50 years. “The levels of THC in pot in the past was a lot less, and the problem now is that the products are so refined that there’s a much greater concentration of THC,” Wold says. “The products are just a lot stronger and, to me, they’re much more dangerous.”
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the THC level in marijuana was about 4 percent in 1995 and had more than tripled, to about 15 percent, by 2021. Marijuana concentrates used in vapes, however, can have THC levels ranging from 40 percent to 80 percent, the Drug Enforcement Administration says. “Being a highly concentrated form of marijuana, the effects upon the user may be more psychologically and physically intense than plant marijuana use,” the DEA notes. For long-term users, that can include cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a serious condition that can cause heavy,
‘‘ The levels of THC in pot in the past was a lot less, and the problem now is that the products are so refined that there’s a much greater concentration of THC.”
—Loren E. Wold, Ohio State University College of Medicine
repeated vomiting.
“The strength of it now is what worries me,” McKnight says. “The complications can be worse because it’s so much more concentrated than it was in the ’60s, the ’70s or the ’80s.”
The percentage of teens using marijuana has been falling in the past decade, according to the CDC’s biennial National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Sixteen percent of high school students reported using pot within the last 30 days in 2021, compared with 23 percent in 2011 and 24 percent in 2001.
The percentage also has fallen since the pandemic, according to the national Monitoring the Future report, which surveys students in grades eight, 10 and 12. In 2023, 8.3 percent of eighth graders, 17.8 percent of 10th graders and 29 percent of 12th graders reported using cannabis in the past year. In 2020, the rates were 11.4 percent of eighth graders, 28 percent of 10th graders and 35.2 percent of 12th graders. Researchers caution that the downward trend could be attributed to the fact that students were not together as much during the height of COVID.
Brian T. Davis, owner of Directions Counseling Group in Powell, says the reasons for teenagers’ marijuana use vary, but it’s important to ask. “Teens are looking to experiment,” says Davis, who has been a counselor for 31 years. “In middle school and high school, there’s a lot of exposure to drugs. And it’s a normal psychological
drive to want to test the world out. Developmentally, the search for independence is on steroids at that point.”
Counselor Tyler Leonhart, who works with Davis, says peer pressure often is a driving force. “Kids get into high school and meet kids who are older than them. There’s a feeling that, ‘I’m doing something I shouldn’t be doing.’ And there’s the element of reward: ‘My friends are going to like me more. People are going to talk to me more. I’m going to fit in.’ ”
Davis says clients tell him they use pot because it helps them to focus or relax. “There are so many answers. Some are self-medicating. To them, it’s medicine.”
McKnight sees that among patients at Nationwide Children’s. “I see two reasons. One, a lot of adolescents use it because it feels good. Secondly, they use it to cope, maybe if they’re socially anxious or just to get through the school day.”
McKnight encourages parents to talk to their children, in a nonconfrontational way, about why they’re using marijuana and how it affects them. “Getting an idea of why they’re using is a good first step, and talking to them about how to be safe is really crucial,” she says. “I’ve found one of the best things we can do for parents is encourage them to keep an open line of communication so they can be seen as a safe person for that kid to talk to.”
Davis and Leonhart say many parents are alarmed when they discover their child is using cannabis. “It’s better if they aren’t overreactive or shocked,” Davis says. “Parents want us to fix the kid, but they need to look at the bigger picture.”
That bigger picture, Leonhart says, includes educating parents about marijuana, cannabis use disorder, health implications and teen psychology. Davis says it’s also important for parents to realize that teenagers will grow into independent adults, so excessive restrictions aren’t necessarily productive. “Setting boundaries in anger and frustration is not good,” he says.
McKnight says she doesn’t recommend tactics such as random drug screening at home, because it can diminish the trust between parent and child.
Gena Miller Shelton, the mother of a kindergartner, a second grader and a seventh grader, started talking to her
children about marijuana in 2022 after her daughters heard about an Upper Arlington 10-year-old who mistook THC gummies at her home for candy and shared them with classmates. “They understood enough to ask questions about that, so we had a conversation,” says Shelton, of Clintonville. “I told them that if you don’t know what something is, don’t put it in your mouth. And I said that there are some things that are for adults and not for children.
“You can’t pretend that it’s not out there; you have to tell kids why it’s a bad idea to use it and help them to understand why it’s stupid. I can’t be with my kids 24/7, but I hope that when they’re not with me they can at least think for themselves,” she says.
Shelton, an attorney for a wind and solar company, says the issue of legalized marijuana hasn’t been a big topic of discussion with other parents. “We talk more about guns and knives and lockdown drills,” she says. “I worry more about social media, like Snapchat, and online gaming platforms. And bullying. Those are the things parents talk about.”
She says her oldest daughter has men-
tioned that kids vape in the middle school bathroom but is much more likely to talk about who’s being mean to whom or whether there was a fight at school.
Shelton says marijuana has become more like alcohol in her mind—much more mainstream. “Boomers talk about their medical marijuana card and maybe that helps demystify it. My seventh grader is like, ‘Yeah, it’s there, it exists, but I don’t know why you’re worried about it.’ She reacts to it in the same way she reacts when she sees me pour a glass of wine.”
Davis and Leonhart say that adolescents who come to them for counseling related to marijuana use usually don’t see their behavior as a problem. Alarmed parents bring them in, or they’ve been charged with possession or sent by their school district. “You usually have a kid sitting there who doesn’t want to be there,” Davis says. “That’s the challenge.”
He first tries to build a rapport with the client, asking what they’re looking forward to in life and what their dreams are. Then he asks how they can make their dreams a reality and how their marijuana
use and choice of friends might affect that. “We can’t impose goals on them, but if we can help them think about the kind of person they want to be, they can frame it themselves,” he says.
Gerbig says the Prevention Action Alliance is working with Ohio’s Division of Cannabis Control on rules and regulations for the legal sale of marijuana. The alliance recommends placing health warnings on packaging, prohibiting packaging that resembles candy wrappers and banning social media marketing.
“We want to make sure it doesn’t target adolescents,” she says. “We have a cohort of adolescents who are really smart, but their brains are developing, and they still need to be encouraged to lean on those adults they trust to make good decisions. Our challenge as adults is to make them understand the risks involved with marijuana.” ◆
Looking for free or low-cost entertainment options?
Here are more than 50 ideas to explore around Central Ohio.
Compiled by Julanne Hohbach
It’s always good to have a few tricks up your sleeve to keep the kids entertained—particularly over summer break. If they’re budget-friendly, well, that’s even better.
With this in mind, we compiled a list of free and low-cost things to do with children around Columbus. The options are wide-ranging, from season-specific movie and concert series to year-round deals on museum admission. Given the number of available options, we did not attempt to create a comprehensive list, instead choosing some of the most popular events and deals that fly under many parents’ radar.
Don’t be afraid to look beyond these suggestions, though. Outdoor options abound, including city splash pads and programs hosted by Metro Parks, Preservation Parks of Delaware County and many municipalities’ parks and recreation departments. Interested in sports? Go online to columbus monthly.com/columbus-parent for The Go-To Guide featuring low-cost (or free) spectator sports.
For more ideas, check out Summer Entertainment Guide on Page 44.
To suggest an addition to our list, send an email to contact@columbus parent.com.
Gateway Film Center and the Columbus Metropolitan Library are teaming up again for the annual From Book to Film summer series. Fifteen family movies, including “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate
Factory” and “Shrek,” will be screened weekends through August. Show your library card for free admission.
The Free Movie Nights series returns to John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons, with monthly screenings in June (“The Secret Life of Pets”), July (“Ratatouille”) and September (“Coco”).
Several family titles are featured in this year’s free Movie Nights at Topiary Park. The series takes place monthly through September and also includes games and activities.
Other free film series to check out include Free Family Flick Night in New Albany, Bexley’s Main Event, Screen on the Green at Goodale Park and Friday Night Flicks in Pickerington.
It’s always free to visit these venues, which don’t charge an admission fee:
• The Orton Geological Museum on the Ohio State University campus features a collection of rocks, minerals and fossils, including a cryolophosaurus (a therapod dinosaur) and a giant ground sloth.
• The Wexner Center for the Arts, which focuses on contemporary art and culture, offers free gallery admission and tours.
• The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at Ohio State houses the world’s largest comics and cartoon collection and produces a series of rotating exhibits.
• Ohio Statehouse visitors can take a self-guided tour and learn about gov-
ernment in the Museum Education Center. Guided tours are available.
• The Riffe Gallery highlights work by Ohio artists and items from stateowned galleries and museums.
• The Ohio Craft Museum, owned by Ohio Designer Craftsmen, offers a variety of rotating exhibits, as well as children’s programming.
• The Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center hosts exhibits in two galleries showcasing local, regional and national contemporary works.
• The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023, offers exhibits and aircraft highlighting all manner of flight, from the Wright brothers to a space shuttle cockpit.
Two of the city’s most visual venues offer admission deals on select days. The Columbus Museum of Art offers free general admission on Sundays, while the Community Days program at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens grants free admission the first Sunday of each month to residents of Columbus and Franklin County.
The Fourth Grade History Pass, part of the America 250-Ohio project, provides free admission to about 40 museums and historic sites across Ohio for students who were in grade four for the 2023-24 school year. Local venues include the Ohio History Center and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. The student must be accompanied by a paying adult. The program runs
through Aug. 31. For more information, go to america250-ohio.org/fourthgrade-pass.
COTA and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium are teaming up again on the Zoo Bus, which offers transportation from Downtown and other select stops, plus discounted attraction admission. The bus makes five trips daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Tickets are $2 for adults, $1 for children ages 5-12 and free for ages 4 and younger. Riders receive $5 admission to the zoo or $10 off a Zoombezi Bay ticket. See route maps and more at cota.com/timetables/ zoo.pdf.
Franklin County Community Days offer half-price admission to county residents who visit Sept. 15 and 16. The promotion is typically held twice a year.
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra will stage two Popcorn Pops concerts with songs—and prices—geared to families. The shows, June 21 and July 12 at John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons, will be
followed by a Disney or Pixar film. All tickets are less than $12.
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra also offers a deal where high school students can get a pair of tickets to a Masterworks concert for $14.
The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus holds free, hourlong, interactive PBJ & Jazz family concerts throughout the year. Four summer performances in Topiary Park include a preconcert storytime; the rest of the season takes place at the Lincoln Theatre.
ProMusica Chamber Orchestra’s Summer Music Series, on tap Aug. 6, 8 and 9, features free, all-ages concerts at Alum Creek Park Amphitheater in Westerville and Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Audience members are invited to pack a picnic and enjoy music under the stars.
The New Albany Symphony Orchestra offers a limited number of free tickets to its Sensory Friendly Concert Series, which is designed for young children, those on the autism spectrum or with dementia/Alzheimer’s.
Many suburbs hold their own concert series, including the Grove City Sum-
mer Concert Series, Hilliard’s Celebration at the Station, Music on the Lawn at Grandview Heights Public Library, Powell’s Lolli-Pops! Summer Children’s Concerts and Westerville’s Sounds of Summer Concert Series
The Columbus Metropolitan Library has partnered with more than a dozen Central Ohio arts organizations and attractions on the ever-expanding Culture Pass program. Card holders can “check out” tickets to some of the city’s most popular places and events, including Columbus Children’s Theatre, the CAPA Summer Movie Series, Columbus Clippers, the zoo, the conservatory and Dawes Arboretum. Check out participating organizations and ticket availability at columbuslibrary.org/culture-pass.
Central Ohio boasts oodles of fairs and festivals, particularly in summer and early fall. Popular options include the Columbus Arts Festival, Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival (don’t miss the free children’s area), Powell Festival,
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At The Gardner School, we understand that playful learning is a powerful teaching tool. Incorporating play into our curriculum allows students to take the lead, follow their curiosity, and joyfully explore the world at their own pace.
Worthington Arts Festival, Westerville Music & Arts Festival, Jazz & Rib Fest, Canal Winchester Blues & Rib Fest, Festival Latino, Greek Festival, Obetz Zucchinifest, Canal Winchester Labor Day Festival, Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival, Arts in the Alley (Grove City), Columbus Oktoberfest, Columbus Italian Festival and the Circleville Pumpkin Show
Worth noting: Children ages 11 and younger get in free at the Dublin Irish Festival (Aug. 2-4), but admission is free for all on Sunday morning with a donation to the Dublin Food Pantry. See Page 52 for festival details.
On the fair front, don’t overlook county fairs, which can be a more manageable and budget-friendly alternative to the Ohio State Fair
The free Commons for Kids series offers games, crafts, activities, carousel rides and more on Friday mornings June 7 to Aug. 9 at John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons.
Abbey Theater of Dublin offers several family-friendly plays and musicals in its lineup each year, with ticket prices that won’t break the bank.
KidX Club at Polaris Fashion Place is a free monthly program offering rotating themes, activities, games and more. The series is geared toward ages 4-11.
The Dublin Market at Bridge Park kicks farmers markets up a notch with live music, animals, kids’ activities and more. The weekly event takes place Saturday mornings through September.
Sign up and read to earn prizes and ra e entries for more
Join us for activities and programs – we have something for everyone.
Sign up starts June 1.
Stop in any Columbus Metropolitan Library location to learn more, or visit columbuslibrary.org/summerreading.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital will host a series of free PlayStreets events in the Linden and South Side neighborhoods throughout the summer, featuring games, music and activities. Go to nationwidechildrens.org/playstreets to find dates and locations.
The national Kids Bowl Free program is offered at several area alleys, including Columbus Square Bowling Palace, Gahanna Lanes, RollHouse Entertainment-Columbus, Rule(3) and Sequoia Pro Bowl. Registered children can bowl up to two free games a day throughout the summer, and parents can purchase a discount pass.
Columbus Metropolitan Library and other local library systems will offer robust Summer Reading Club programming for children and families. ◆